Go For Production with Brandon Riley: A Filmmaking Podcast

Phillip Rush (@philliprush on instagram) is an experienced 1st AD based in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania who has worked on numerous independent films and series. 

Abraham Martinez (_abemartinez_ on instagram) is a Director of Photography who has traveled across the world to nearly 60 countries. He started out working on many studio feature films in Hollywood within the camera department on movies such as Flight Plan, Spider-Man 3, and Fast and Furious to name a few.

Abe recently broke ground in television filming two shows back to back, Queen of the South and The Chi. He has experience filming internationally and has shot two independent feature films overseas, in India and Kenya. While on location in Kenya, along with his wife and two boys, Abraham resourcefully produced a children's show pilot targeting vulnerable children. Working on films has proved more than simply an adventurous career but has triggered a passion to impact culture and shoot compelling stories along the way.

Deep Work by Cal Newport

The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp

The Obstacle is the way by Ryan Holliday

Masterclass

Gad is the founder and president of Croogloo a film and television operations platform. He has a background in film production having worked on numerous films and tv shows. Currently Gad has a mission to remedy inefficient productions and costly practices by centralizing productions to unlock data and generate tax credits.

In this episode Brent Barbano talks about his experience as a Cinematographer and journey as one of the Co-Founders of Sharegrid.

Sharegrid (@sharegrid on instagram) is the largest, most trusted camera sharing community in the world.

In this episode we talk with Jules Kovisars (@JKovisars on twitter)

Jules is a Producer, Production Executive and DGA Unit Production Manager.

Following graduation from Vassar, Jules was admitted to the DGA trainee program and upon graduation worked as a Key 2nd AD for many years on shows ranging from lower budget TV to blockbuster feature films like Men In Black: 2.

She spent some time working in Spain as the Head of Production for Palma Pictures, the largest commercial service company in the EU.

Returning to Los Angeles, Jules continued to work as a UPM and Producer on acclaimed series including THE FOSTERS (Freeform TV) and EPISODES (Showtime), as well as myriad pilots and one-offs. From this experience, Jules was recruited to the rebranding of truTV network, based in New York City, where she remained until the finalization of the merger with AT&T.

Currently in LA Jules works as a producer and UPM on numerous scripted projects, and is repped by UTA.

In this episode Brandon Riley (@radiantfirst on instagram) the host of Go For Production unpacks 20 ways to advance your entertainment career in 2020. 

In this episode we talk with 1st AD Doug Torres (@suckafish1102 on instagram) about getting into the mind of the Director and creating a style that works. 

Doug is a verteran DGA 1st AD who has worked on countless movies. A few of the films that Doug has worked on include Drumline, Mr. 3000, We Own the Night, The Scorcer's Apprentice, The Beaver, 12 Years a Slave, Tripe 9, Bright, Ad Adstra and the upcoming trilogy Fear Street.

In this episode we talk with Alex Ferrari (@ifilmhustle on instagram) about producing micro budget movies and the rise of the Filmtrepreneur.

Alex is an author, blogger, speaker, consultant, the host of the #1 filmmaking podcast on iTunes the Indie Film Hustle Podcast, and an award-winning writer/director with 25 years of experience in the film industry. As a director, his films have screened in over 500 international film festivals.

Alex recently released his second book Rise of the Filmtrepreneur® How to Turn Your Indie Film into a Money Making Business.

Rise of the Filmtrepreneur: How to Turn Your Indie Film into a Moneymaking Business - http://www.filmbizbook.com

Indie Film Hustle: http://www.indiefilmhustle.com

Indie Film Hustle TV: http://www.indiefilmhustle.tv

Filmtrepreneur: http://www.filmtrepreneur.com

Bulletproof Screenwriting: www.bulletproofscreenwriting.tv

On the Corner of Ego and Desire (Sundance Film): http://www.egoanddesirefilm.com

Shooting for the Mob (Based on the Incredible True Filmmaking Story): http://www.shootingforthemob.com

Butch (@butchkaplan on instagram) has been working as a Producer & Production Manager in Film and Television for over 30 years. Some of Butch’s credits include Fear The Walking Dead, John Q,  The Notebook, Alpha Dog, Bablyon AD and Oldboy.

Matt Compton (@mattcproducer on twitter) has been working as a Producer & Production Manager in Film and Television for over 20 years.  He began his career with the independent feature film “Dreamers” in 1999. From there, Matt has served as either a Producer or Production Manager on many other feature films, including “Slip Dream”, “Callback”, “The Hillside Strangler”, “Altered”, “Seventh Moon”, and “Midnight Son”.

In addition to feature films, Matt has also worked on various promos and commercials.  His promos include spots for Disney Channel, Disney XD, Toon Disney, Playboy Television, and Animal Planet.  He’s also Produced two Public Service Announcements for The Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

For Television, Matt has produced the specials “The Burkittsville 7” for Showtime, “The B.P.R.D. Declassified” for Sony TV/FX, and “Disney Channel’s Cast Party: Andi Mack” for Disney Channel.

Recently Matt developed a budgeting and actualizing app for short form productions called True Budget.

Jason Waggenspack is the founder and CEO of Neutral Ground Films and The Ranch Film Studios. He has recently produced "The True Don Quixote" with Tim Blake Nelson and Jacob Batalon as well as "Arceneaux" with Lance Nichols and is currently directing the medicinal cannabis documentary called "Abby's Joy". He has played an integral part in landing several major motion pictures to the state of Louisiana for over a decade. He is the Treasure of the Louisiana Film Entertainment Association (LFEA) and is the 2018 Champions Of Tourism Award Winner by the Lt. Governor.

Keith Alan Morris (@keithalanmorris on twitter) is a practicing filmmaker and film professor.

Keith has been involved in numerous films as a writer/producer/director and cinematographer. Some of his films include "The Motorcycle Thief, The Clinic and Gutter King which was Keith’s breakthrough film.

In addition to being a film-maker Keith has served as a production consultant on numbers films (Old, Boy, The Magnificent Seven, Elvis & Nixon, and Mr. Right) are just a few...

Currently Keith is a tenured Associate Professor of Film at Dillard University in New Orleans, an HBCU, where he runs the film program as the Program Coordinator. In 2015, the Film program was named one of two Signature Programs at Dillard.  Keith also won the 2012 Media Educator of the Year Award by the Social Change Film Fest and Institute and helps 3 to 9 features get made per semester.

In this episode we talk with Alex Peron (@setkeeper on instagram) one of the co-founders of Setkeeper. Alex is passionate about bringing new technologies to make life easier for production office teams and helping them make great content. 

Collier Meyer (@space_naps on instagram) is a POC/APOC from Texas, who graduated with a Bachelors in media Production from The University of Alabama. He started out working in Los Angeles as an assistant to the legendary Dustin Hoffman where he quickly learned the inns and outs of the film industry.  In 2015 Collier and his wife moved to New Orleans where he spent a majority of his time as a coordinator on commercials. Most recently Collier has transitioned to the scripted world working on shows such as  “Wounds", "Queen & Slim", and "Bill & Ted Face the Music”.

In this episode we talk with Alexander Salazar (@directedbysalazar on instagram) about the role of the 2nd 2nd AD and the art of directing Background Actors.

Alex is a filmmaker and Assistant Director from Washington state, who graduated with a Bachelors in Film & Television Production from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles before moving to New Orleans to work on a wide range of independent and studio films. After working on numerous shows as a Production Assistant, Alex soon joined the Directors Guild and began working as a 2nd 2nd AD and Key 2nd AD. Some of his credits include Happy Death Day 2U, The Highwaymen, Yellowstone: Season 2, Queen of the South: Season 4, as well as the upcoming films Power and Bill & Ted: Face The Music. In addition to his work as an AD, Alex has directed two feature films, including the award-winning Amazon film "Danger, Dames & Dangerous Games" and "A Lesson In Cruelty”.

In this episode we talk about all things locations with Dale Dreher (@dalerdreher on instagram)

Dale is a Location Scout and Manager in the Los Angeles Studio Zone and all of Southern California. 

His Specialties include Union and NonUnion Location Scouting, Management, Hard to Find Locations, Houses, Offices, Buildings, Schools, Suburban or Urban Locations, Streets, Freeways, Americana and all other locations you can imagine!  

Dale has worked on numerous movies, tv shows and commercials. Some of the projects Dale has worked on include Bright, Grace Unplugged, East Los Angeles, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 24, Curb Your Enthusiasm and countless others…

Please check out Dale's website https://www.socalscout.com

In this episode we talk with 1st Assistant Director Chris Castaldi.

Chris is a graduate of UCLA with a bachelors in economics and emphasis in film started out in the film world as a Production Assistant and went on to work as a 2nd AD, 1st AD and is currently working in a producing capacity at Joe Roth’s Film.  Some of Chris's credits include Avengers Endgame, Avengers Infinity War, Iron Man 1 and 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Jurassic World, Tomorrowland, Pain & Gain, The Bourne Legacy, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol and more....

In this episode we talk with Seth Edelstein about his process of finding and hiring the right people..

Seth started out in the film world as a Production Assistant and then got into the DGA Trainee program in the 90s and went on to work as an 2nd 2nd AD, 2nd AD, 1st AD and now Unit Production Manager. Some of Seth’s credits include Nightcrawler, Liar Liar, Dodgeball, Speed, Beethoven 2nd, Better Caul Saul, American Crime Story, The Mentalist, Without a Trace to name a few.

In this episode we talk with 1st AD Korey Pollard (@migrantfilmworker on instagram) about his experience working as a 1st AD in Television. 

Korey has over thirty years of in-depth motion picture and television production strategy, management and delivery experience, Korey has certainly made (and continues to make) his mark on the industry. His proven attention to detail, problem-solving, collaborative leadership and critical thinking skills are evident in the projects he’s invited to engage in. Some of these projects include: Ryan Murphy’s Emmy award-winning ‘Assassination of Gianni Versace’ (FX), Emmy award-winning ‘Monk’ (USA Network), Seth MacFarlane's ‘The Orville’ (Fox),‘9-1-1 What's Your Emergency’ (Fox), ‘Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Series’ (Amazon/Paramount). He also helped bring ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Nashville’ to life for ABC Studios, ‘Deadwood’ for HBO and ‘House M.D.’ and ‘Life’ for NBC.

Korey received early training and mentoring on films like: ‘Stand By Me’ (Columbia Pictures), ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ (20th Century Fox), ‘Clear and Present Danger’ (Paramount), “Waterworld’ (Universal Pictures), ‘And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself’ (HBO) and ‘Once Upon a Time in Mexico’ (Columbia Pictures/Dimension Films) to name a few.

Korey remembers the incredible support and help that he was given and he strongly believes in giving back by teaching, mentoring and sharing his experiences with others, especially youth and future filmmakers. He sits on the advisory board of Greenhouse Collective, Lipscomb University’s College of Entertainment and the Arts, Grand Rapid’s Compass College of Cinematic Arts, and Belmont University’s Motion Picture Program. He also speaks regularly at schools, workshops and other engagements across the nation.

Check out Korey's article on Stage32 https://www.stage32.com/blog/So-You-Want-to-Be-in-Pictures

In this episode we talk with Joth Riggs (@jothriggs on instagram) about his experience working with first time directors. 

Joth is an award-winning filmmaker whose film career spans 25 years and includes over 80 movies and television shows for all the major Hollywood studios. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Film Production, Joth got his start on the set of his first feature film, Pet Sematary II. From there he went on to work as a production assistant on the sitcom Coach on the Universal lot before ultimately landing at Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. It was only after being accepted into the prestigious Director's Guild Training Program that Joth left Amblin to become an Assistant Director. After years of A.D.ing on everything from feature films like Starship Troopers, End of Days, and Suicide Kings with Christopher Walken to t.v. series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Party of Five, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and Baywatch among others, Joth made the move to the director's chair with several award-winning short films including Push, Shaken, and Heartfall, as well as the television series The Encounter. Joth is currently in pre-production to direct a suspense thriller later this year.

In this episode we talk with Josh Weinberg, CEO of RABS (a software solution to manage background actors digitally).  Josh is a graduate from Tulane University and holds a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and Political Science.  Prior to developing RABS, Josh worked in the film industry as a Production Assistant where he saw first hand the many issues that productions faced including the problem he set out to solve that of managing background.  

Jason Roberts is a member of the DGA and works as a UPM, 1st AD, 2nd AD and has worked on some very well known Tv Shows and Movies..... The Orville, Downsizing, American Made, Transformers: The Last Knight, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Jurassic World, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Collateral etc... Jason started out in the film industry working as a Production Assistant before landing a job as a DGA Trainee.

In this episode we dive into the specifics and philosophy behind finding and managing locations for film and tv shows. Our guest, Nick Thomas (@imnickthomas on instagram), currently works as a Location Manager in the New Orleans market as both a scout and manager. Nick has worked on TV shows such as Cloak & Dagger, Fear the Walking Dead, Preacher and a plethora of movies of all budget sizes.  Check out Nick’s website at http://www.nickthomas.co/

Paul Garnes (@paulgarnes on instagram) has served as producer, line producer and/or production manager on films and television series for Disney, Dreamworks, HBO, ABC, NBC, BET, Sony/Screen Gems, Magnolia Films, and Paramount Pictures.

A graduate of Chicago's Columbia College, Garnes has worked as Vice President of Operations and Production for Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx's Foxx/King Productions and Head of Production for Simmons-Lathan Media Group.

In 2006, Garnes was recruited by Tyler Perry and Reuben Cannon to join the Tyler Perry Company where he served as Vice President and Executive in Charge of Production until 2009, overseeing the creation of its multi-million dollar studio and backlot. In addition to daily operations, Garnes supervised over 250 episodes of broadcast television while at the studio.

Paul was the Executive Producer of the film Selma that was nominated for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Original Song, and won a 2015 Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Recently Paul served as the Line Producer of ABC’s Cloak and Dagger and is Currently working as the Line Producer and Executive Producer to the series Queen Sugar which is part of the OWN Network.